While the Timberwolves’ boys won all but No. 5 singles to capture their second straight championship, the girls matches came down to the wire, ultimately pulling out a win by the narrowest of margins.

Cynthia Wang went the distance with Leon’s Katie Garland at No. 5, winning 9-11, 7-6 (0), 6-3 to push Chiles to a six-point win. If Garland, who won the opening tiebreaker and then nearly the next set, had won, the two teams would have tied in points and played a challenge match the week after spring break to determine a true winner.

“Our closest match locally in the last year and a half has been 7-0, so when we discussed the format Sunday night, I was all for it so we could put more pressure on our kids,” Chiles coach Owen Long said. “It showed that the format in return gave us a lot of pressure. Two weeks ago, we beat Leon 7-0 and then all of a sudden looking at today I thought we were going to lose.

“The format was great for us. We needed that. It gave us pressure and put the kids in tough positions, which will help us later in the year.”

Grady is the first Leon city champion since Lincoln alum Anna McDonald won during her freshman year at Leon in 2014.

“It’s great and a really good experience,” Grady said. “My sister (Kelsie) played Leon tennis and played No. 2, but I don’t think she ever won (her bracket) at her position. This is a good moment to have. Last year, I lost in the semifinals to (Chiles’) Ashley (Tang) and had to play one-handed. Cities my freshman year I lost to (Maclay’s) Daniela (Schneider) in the semis. I just never thought this opportunity would get here.”

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Leon junior Jules Grady captured a 2018 tennis city title with a win over Chiles' Sofia Guerrero on Friday at Maclay.(Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)

Grady dominated the opening tiebreaker 10-3, then claimed a 6-1 win in the first set. Last year, NFC’s Laura Ceci beat Tang in the final in a three-set tiebreaker. Grady knocked off Ceci in the semis 8-5 this year then carried her Thursday momentum into Friday.

“I’ve never beaten Ashley, but Laura beat Ashley last year, so when I had to go against Laura – I knew her game was strong because Coach (Kevin) Record gives her lessons,” Grady said. “I felt like I had nothing to lose (against Guerrero) because she was the higher seed. I think the format helped me knowing if I went strong in strong I could win the tiebreaker.”

Over the summer, Grady put in time at the Seminole High Performance Tennis Camp. She began training four days a week for several hours, then would practice each day with Leon coach Kevin Record as well.

“I was so tickled for Jules,” Record said. “She was aggressive, stuck to her guns, and played her gameplan so well. She went after it and just played fearlessly.

“Her serve has gotten so much better. She’s busting it. We’ve worked on it a lot. It’s a technical sport. Having the right service grip is a big deal. She’s spinning the ball more. She’s come a long, long way from two years ago. And she has a big upside. That serve can become gargantuan.”

The tournament got tight right off the bat with Chiles defaulting at No. 3 as Gracie Wilson didn’t play Friday to look at colleges. Long didn’t think her points would matter much initially, but then at No. 4 Leon’s Tory Russell handed Chiles junior Amy Xia her first local loss in three years.

With Grady’s win, Leon had cut the gap in three of five matches. Tang beat Leon’s Abby Birkmeier at No. 2, but Wang was able to battle back against Garland stop the upset aspirations.

“Tory, I’ve never had a 4 singles serve and volley,” Record said. “She won the match at the net.

“To take that thing down to the wire was really cool. For Katie, she lost, but that’s as well as I’ve seen her play. She’s striking the ball, going toe to toe. To get in there, hang and compete, it was awesome.

“I think this gives them a sense of belief and belonging that we can do this. These girls can play.”

At boys No. 1, Chiles senior Josh Macri won for the second straight year, this time in a spirited and lively match with Leon senior Kellen Long. Knowing the district rival Lions were gunning for them was also a helpful aspect of focus for two-time city champ Macri.

“We’re good friends, both going to Florida State together,” Macri said. “He’s fun to play against, highly competitive and it’s a good match every time.

“(Last year), Will (Perrigan’s) Maclay team wasn’t as strong as Leon is. We play them close in the regular season. An all Chiles-Leon final, it meant more to me.”